The City of Boone and the Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC) have announced a new partnership that will support economic development programming for the City of Boone.
The Boone City Council, at its December 21 City Council meeting last week, ratified a twelve-month contract with the AEDC that will begin on January 1, 2021.
This agreement solidifies a regional partnership that strengthens Boone’s local economic development efforts. It will allow the tapping of new resources that have been highlighted as critically needed to keep growing the community as identified by Boone Mayor John Slight, the City Council, and City Administrator William Skare. Responsibilities within the contract include, but are not limited to, an assertive business retention and expansion program with an emphasis on making certain the City of Boone is conversant with the needs of the business community along with a wide array of workforce programming to support the Boone business community.
“We are looking forward to a strong connection to our local businesses with this partnership,” said Boone City Administrator, William Skare in a release. “We know that the majority of new jobs come from existing employers and we believe working with the team at the AEDC will help us expand those relationships and maximize those opportunities.”
The City of Boone’s relationship with Boone County Economic Growth Corp. will continue as well and this new effort with AEDC helps that organization by coming alongside while providing resources previously not available that now could be covered in the new City contract.
The contract also calls for a wide variety of workforce programming, social media development promoting opportunities in the Boone community, and support of the City as it relates to securing state and federal funding opportunities for economic development projects and other community needs.
The contract will be reviewed annually by the Boone City Council, with the AEDC providing quarterly updates to the City on progress and activity. The AEDC, which also holds contracts with the City of Ames, City of Huxley, City of Story City, Iowa State University Research Park, Nevada Economic Development Council, and Story County consists of 14 personnel that, combined, have over 60 years of economic and community development experience.
